Picture source: China Gems & Jade Exchange

On November 2, 2024, the 2024 CIBJO Congress kicked off in Shanghai, marking CIBJO’s first annual meeting in China. Liu Ping, Deputy Secretary-General of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government, Li Dong, President and Deputy Party Secretary of Donghao Lansheng Group, and Dr. Gaetano Cavalieri, President of CIBJO, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony. Ma Xiaobin, member of the Party Committee and Deputy Director of Shanghai SASAC, Luo Zhisong, Chief Economist of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, and Xu Xin, Deputy District Chief of Pudong New Area attended the opening ceremony. Meanwhile, nearly 200 people attended the opening ceremony and special sessions of the Congress, including principals of International Colored Stone Association (ICA), World Gold Council (WGC), Platinum Guild International (PGI), Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), International Precious Metals Institute (IPMI), Gems & Jewelry Trade Association of China (GAC) and National Gems & Jewelry Testing Co. Ltd. (NGTC), as well as representatives of jewelry associations and enterprises from various countries on five continents.

The Congress was jointly hosted and organized by the CIBJO, Diamond Administration of China, Donghao Lansheng Group, and China Gems & Jade Exchange.

Picture source: China Gems & Jade Exchange

Founded in 1926, the CIBJO is the only international organization in the diamond, gems, and jewelry industry to have an official seat at the United Nations Economic and Social Council. As one of the most influential international organizations in the global jewelry industry, the CIBJO held its Congress in Shanghai, undoubtedly making Shanghai the focus in the global jewelry industry.

Picture source: China Gems & Jade Exchange

The CIBJO Congress was held in China for the first time. During the Congress, various professional committees for diamonds, colored gems, pearls, gemmology, precious metals, corals, ethics, and responsible purchasing conducted discussions on special topics in related fields and reached new consensus, which will be published in the subsequent revision of the “Blue Book”.

The Congress also organized several special sessions, inviting Chinese and foreign representatives to discuss topics such as jewelry design education, the impact of government policies on the jewelry industry, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable development.

Picture source: China Gems & Jade Exchange

China is the world’s largest consumer of gold, platinum, and jade and the second-largest consumer of diamonds. Its consumption of colored gems ranks among the top in the world. Shanghai is not only China’s economic center city but also an important jewelry consumer market in China and even the world. In 2023, the retail sales of gold, silver, and jewelry above designated size in Shanghai reached RMB 43.567 billion, with a year-on-year increase of 14.4%, accounting for 13.2% of the national total. Shanghai has three national factor trading markets for gold, diamonds, and gems & jade. “Shanghai Gold”, “New York Gold”, and “London Gold” are collectively known as the world’s three major gold trading markets. Shanghai is also one of the five major diamond trading centers in the world.

Currently, Shanghai is committed to building itself into an international consumption center city, with a focus on making fashion consumption represented by jewelry a shining business card of the city. In particular, Shanghai will focus on key areas and accelerate the construction of an “International Jewelry Fashion Functional Area”, further optimizing functional layout, improving industrial ecology, and enhancing core advantages in terms of brand agglomeration, design customization, R&D innovation, exhibition, and professional services, in order to continuously enhance Shanghai’s competitiveness and influence in the international jewelry fashion field.

Picture source: China Gems & Jade Exchange

CIBJO’s member organizations and its members have confidence in the vibrant and promising market in China including Shanghai, and welcome China’s increasing openness to the outside world. We believe that through the exchanges and interactions at this Congress, the global jewelry industry will start to enter the Chinese market and help Shanghai become one of the world’s important trade hubs for jewelry. We expect that Chinese and foreign jewelry enterprises will work together to seize opportunities, cope with challenges, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.